Floor scrubbing apparatus



MaI/"20, 1941 w. s. FINNELL. 2,242,577

FLOOR S CRUBBING APPARATUS Filed June 3 1938 NVENTOR Mzlfer 5f A TTORNE Ys.

Patented May 20, 1941 FLOOR SCRUBBINGAPPARATUS Walter S. Finnell, Elkhart, Ind., assigner to Finnell Systems, Inc., Elkhart, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application `lune 3, 1938, Serial No. `211,633

` (c1. 151s0l Z Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to oor scrubbing apparatuses.

The main objects of thisinvention are to provide improved means for thoroughly mixing the Water and cleaning compound and spreading the same -before it comes in contact with the scrulbbing brushes proper; to provide a preliminary mixing and spreading of the water and cleaning compound such that when acted on b-y the rotating scrub brushes, a oor is thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned without streaks by one passage of the scrubbing machine over the floor; to provide mitting quick and ready removal therefrom and repl-mement thereof without the use of tools.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a Itop plan View of Jthe brush carrier showing the position of the two lannular series of brushes in dotted outline;

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation oi a brush and brush holder secured rto the under side of the carrier plate whenl the carrier is raised from the floor;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of a brush holder with a brush secured therein; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing a brush and brush -holder secured to the carrier with the brush resting on the floor and suliicient pressure on the brush carrier to bring the brush into substantially parallel relation to the carrier.

In the use of a rotating brush carrier in scrubbing machines of the power driven type, it has been customary to introduce the water and cleaning compound into the middle of the carrier through the openings of a spider provided therein. Where the brush carrier is of relatively small dimensions so that the annular series of brushes, when viewed in plan, occupy a space of fteen to eighteen inches, the action of the closely positioned brushes on the soap and water will thoroughly mix vthe same and at the same time effect a thorough scrubbing of lthe floor without streaking.

It has been found, however, that in the use of a scrub brush carrier of this type of larger size, such as'twenty inches and up in diameter, the brushes are located 'so far away -from the middle of the brush holder that the water and cleaning compound is not properly mixed and spread so as vIto'eiiect a thorough cleaning and slcrubbng of the floor without streaking, particularly if it is desired :to effect a thorough scrubbing of the floor in one passage of the machine over the floor surface.

In the present invention means have been provided for effecting a preliminary mixing of the Water and cleaning compound and a spreading of the mixed material before it comes in contact with the main series of scrwb Ibrushes which are arranged adjacent the periphery of the disk-like brush carrier. By reason of this preliminary mixing and spreading of the water and cleaning compound, it has been found possible to secure a thorough and satisfactory scrubbing of the floor surface with one passage of the machine thereover without' leaving any streaks. g

In the construction shown in the drawing, a disk-like brush carrier IIJ, preferably of light weight material such as sheet metal, is provided with an axially positioned opening I I therethrough in which is secured a spider I2 by means of bolts I3. The spider I2 is of relatively heavy weight and provides rigidity to the carrier I0 by being secured thereto at a plurality of points, the peripheral edge of the spider being provided with a ring-like rim I4 through which the bolts I3 extend.

The under side of the carrier l! has .an annular series of scrub brushes, generally designated I5 in Fig. 1, which are arranged concentrically with respect to the spider I2 and closely adjacent thereto, for the purpose of mixing and spreading water and cleaning compound which is passed through the openings II and spider I2 when tthe unit is being rotated on a floor during use. It will-be understood that the scrubbing device, while being'rotated, is also moved bodily along the floor by the machine Ito which it is attached and as this translation is accomplished, the mixed and spread water and cleaning compound is engaged and picked up by a second annular series of scrubbing brushes, which are the scrubbers .proper and generally designated I6 in Fig. 1. The series of brushes I6 are arranged closely adjacent the peripheral edge of the carrier disk Ill and effect a thorough and satisfactory scrubbing of the surface due to lt-he preliminary mixing and spreading of the water and cleaning compound by the inner series of brushes I5.

The scrub brush units I5 and IS are all of the same general construction 'and type and oomprise a brush holder II in the form of a relatively broad channel having a web I8 which is adap-ted to receive the top side of a brush back I9 flush thereagainst. The brush holder is provided with flanges at the opposite edge thereof, the outer one 20 of which is generally arcuate shape when viewed in plan, and the lower edge of the flange is provided with a plurality of integrally formed prongs 2| which are bent inwardly, Ias shown most clearly in Fig. 4, so as to engage and bite into the outer side edge of the brush back I9, which edge is also of generally arcuate form to iit the holder.

The opposite flange 22 of the brush holder is relatively straight, except at its mid point where it is provided with an outwardly bulging pocket 23 which is adapted to receive and have seated therein a similarly shaped middle portion of a bowed leaf spring 24. The pocket 23 of the flange 22 and the spring 24 are provided with registering apertures therethrough for receiving a bolt 25 which secures and retains the spring 24 in its seat or pocket. The oppositely extending free ends of the spring 24 are provided with inwardly extending sharp prongs 25 which engage and bite into the opposite side edge of the brush back I9. The web I8 of the brush holder is also provided with a downwardly turned finger 21 at one end thereof which engages one end edge of the brush back I9 and forms a stop for preventing the brush from slipping rearwardly in the holder when the holder is moved in a direction opposite to the stop.

Each of the brush holders I'I is secured to the underside of the carrier Iil by means of a flat strap-like spring 28 which is formed in substantially U-shape but with the legs thereof diverging slightly outwardly when in normal uncompressed condition. The outer side of one leg of the spring 28 is secured against the under side of the carrier II) by bolts 251i and the outer side of the other leg of the spring 28 is secured against the top surface of the web I8 of the brush holder I1 by bolts 3D. The leg of the spring 28, which is secured to the brush holder, is longer than the leg which is secured to the carrier I and the extremity thereof is turned up at right angl-es to the leg to form a limit stop 3l which contacts the under surface of the carrier I0 when the brush is placed on the floor and pressure exerted downwardly on the carrier ID, as shown most clearly in Fig. where the stop SI is in contact with the under surface of the carrier I0.

In the operation of this improved scrubbing unit, carrier I0 is attached to a scrubbing machine in the usual manner for rotation and translatory movement over the oor to be scrubbed. Water and cleaning compound are fed into the middle of the carrier IE) through the opening Il therein around the spider I2 and are spread and distributed by the inner series of mixing and spreading brushes I5. These brushes, being located closely adjacent to the opening through the carrier, will pick up the cleaning compound and water, thoroughly mix the same, and spread it out, so that as the unit is moved along the iioor the outer series I6 of scrubbing brushes proper will be able to utilize the same and effect a thorough and satisfactory job of floor scrubbing without leaving objectionable streaks thereon. It will be understood, of course, that this unit is particularly adaptable for use in a floor scrubbing machine which removes the water from the floor immediately after the scrubbing is accomplished.

The brush holders I'I, being mounted on the U-shaped springs 28, will instantly move downwardly upon passing over any depression in the iioor so that the scrub brush carried thereby will follow uneven contours in the floor surface. It is to be particularly noted that this mounting is free of frictional retardation and permits instant movement of the brush downwardly.

vThe scrub brushes may be readily installed and removed from the brush holder II by grasping the brush and moving it toward the bowed spring 24 until the prongs or teeth 2I formed on the opposite flange are disengaged from the vside edge of the brush back, at which time the brush is rotated downwardly clear of the flange 20 and prongs 2! and then moved away from the bowed spring 24. New brushes may be quickly installed by the reverse of the foregoing operation. In this manner brushes may be installed, removed, or replaced quickly without the use of any tools and yet will be rigidly and securely retained in their holders.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, itA will -be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A floor scrubber comprising a disk shaped brush carrier adapted to be rotated, said carrier having an opening therethrough adjacent its ,axis of rotation through which water and cleaning compound may be introduced, an annular series of unit brushes yieldingly secured to said carrier closely adjacent the opening therethrough for mixing and spreading such water and cleaning compound, and a second annular series of unit brushes yieldingly secured to said carrier in outward radially spaced relation to said first mentioned series for receiving the mixed and spread water and cleaning compound when said carrier is rotated on the floor.

2. A floor scrubber comprising a scrub brush carrying member, a scrub brush holder, and a flat strap-like spring formed in substantially U- shape, with the legs thereof normally diverging outwardly, a side of one leg being secured to said brush carrying member in parallel relation thereto and a side of the other leg being secured to said brush holder, the end of one of said legs being bent toward the other at substantially right angles to provide a stop for limiting the movement of said legs toward each other.

WALTER S. FINNELL. 

